In brief
On Thursday, Casey Means, a prominent physician known for her wellness advocacy, will face the Senate health committee in a virtual confirmation hearing for the role of U.S. surgeon general. At 38 and currently pregnant, Means plans to present her approach to combating chronic diseases through a focus on root causes, following the health agenda of her ally, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. However, skepticism exists regarding her qualifications, as she lacks government experience and her medical license is inactive. Financial disclosures highlight potential conflicts of interest due to her endorsements of health products and wellness services.
NEW YORK (AP) — Casey Means, a Stanford-educated physician and wellness influencer, will face senators on Thursday in a virtual confirmation hearing as she seeks approval to become the nation's surgeon general.
Means, who is pregnant, is anticipated to present her vision for addressing chronic diseases by targeting their root causes, aligning with the health campaign of her ally, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The 38-year-old entrepreneur will also need to defend her credibility amid concerns about her qualifications, particularly since she has no government experience and her medical license is inactive. Having left her surgical residency in 2018 due to frustrations with the healthcare system, she has turned to alternative health solutions.
Means co-founded Levels, a nutrition and exercise-tracking app aimed at addressing widespread metabolic dysfunction through insights into nutrition, sleep, and exercise.
Financial disclosures indicate that Means has earned significant income from promoting various health and wellness products, raising scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. An Associated Press investigation revealed that she sometimes failed to disclose her profit motives when endorsing these products.
If confirmed, Means would oversee approximately 6,000 members of the U.S. Public Health Service Corps and could issue advisories on public health issues. Her role would also involve advancing Kennedy's ambitious health agenda, which seeks to eliminate harmful additives from U.S. foods and incentivize nutritious options in school lunch programs.
Despite her controversial stances, particularly concerning vaccinations, Means plans to promote further research into their safety rather than partake in policymaking regarding them.
Stephen Lewerenz, a spokesperson for the Senate health committee chairman, expressed that the chairman looks forward to discussing with Means her plans for enhancing transparency and trust in health institutions.
